Give Trump a chance

President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference, on Feb. 16, 2017, in the East Room of the White House in Washington.

President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference, on Feb. 16, 2017, in the East Room of the White House in Washington.

(Evan Vucci / AP)

People dismissing Trump probably wouldn't have given Lincoln a chance either.

Time Magazine named Donald J. Trump the "2016 Person of the Year of Theses Divided States of America."

I am reminded of another controversial Republican candidate who weathered the political storm rather well and became president of a divided nation His name was Abraham Lincoln.

In the 1860 presidential election, Abraham Lincoln was vilified by the press, called a baboon, a backwoodsman, and was a polarizing figure. Mr. Trump has also been vilified by the press, called names, and has been a polarizing figure.

Lincoln managed to get only 40 percent of the popular Vote and 180 electoral votes in a four-way race between northern Democratic candidate Stephen A. Douglas, southern Democratic candidate John C. Breckinridge, and Constitutional Union candidate John Bell.

In 1860, the country was on the brink of a Civil War. The country could not have been more divided as a nation on which direction the country should go on the issue of slavery. The result was 11 states seceding from the Union and forming the Confederate States of America.

Abraham Lincoln called the country to bind up the nation's wounds, which was the theme of his second inaugural address.

In most polls, Lincoln always appears in the top five of our greatest presidents and usually finishes first or second to George Washington.

Mr. Trump campaigned on the theme "Make America Great Again." Let's give him a chance and see what he can do to "Make America Great Again."